What Is Metaphysics: Understanding The Basics

Metaphysical approach to religion. Study and speculation of spiritual energy and happenings, considered supernatural (ghosts, spirits and divinity).

Metaphysics is a popular field of science, which explores concepts such as healing, death and the afterlife, the spirit world, tarot, meditation, astrology and the supernatural. When the word metaphysics is thrown around casually, one is not to be intimidated, rather enlightened, as it has little to do with physics, but shares the main concept of physics-"energy".

Metaphysics is also linked to the world of parapsychogy, (e.g.) the investigation of telepathy. Similar in nature, some like to use the words interchangeably, but metaphysics takes it own shape and form. Supernatural happenings and miracles merge with metaphysics, as well, and are usually classified under the subject.

Usually, for beginners the best places to gather information about this re-emerging and mysterious topic, is at local lectures or workshops. Other resources may be the library or people who are interested in "new age" concepts, perhaps including yoga instructors, massage therapists, homeopathists, reverands, astrologers, and mediums/channelers or anyone who works with energy and healing.

If the route of knowledge is through a lecture pertaining to one of the above mentioned subjects or a similar subject, the following fictitious examples can help to zero in on what to look for in a metaphysical lecture: "How to Get in Touch with Your Spirit Guides", "Developing Your Innermost Mediumistic Abilities", Reorganizing Your Health and Your Home with Feng Shui," "Listening to the Voices of the Angels," Reading and Interpreting Human Auras," and "Using the Tarot to Develop Personal Relationships."

Now that it is easier to focus in on some of these topics, a clear and open mind must be available to allow the information that is going to be presented to register. This is where support is helpful, from a friend, teacher, parent, etc., especially for those who are not religious and are rather skeptical about the subjects, but want to be more convinced of its content.

The prerequisites before embarking on a metaphysical path requires the two following things: a belief in a God and the possibility of an afterlife. If these two concepts are not met, one will have trouble grasping the concepts of metaphysics. Also, if an individual has more traditional views of religion, this will also serve as an obstacle to learning metaphysics, as metaphysics takes a non-traditional route to religion, otherwise known as spirituality. Actually, this fact alone makes metaphysics a more flexible and graspable means of spirituality without rules and regulations, that almost anyone can grasp, other than the die-hard skeptics who are most likely out to disprove the concepts and not take advantage of them.

Additional terminology is always helpful for the learners of metaphysics. It is important to be able to know what certain words and phrases mean when spoken by a lecturer who is going to go into much more detail later on in the lecture. Some common words and phrases used by lecturers include: afterlife, third-eye, other side, aura, white light, coming through, life contract, presence, and soulmate. After a brief introduction to these words, one will begin to get familiar with the lingo which is constant in books, lectures, tapes, videos, and readings.